anyone done this with an electronic/car radio shop?
SO you removed the bottom brake lights that awesome, any way to get the signal to the top lights too?
Im going to resurrect this thread . Wouldn’t it be easy to located the distributor switch and swap the wires at that point without any cutting ? Is that circuit board that sends light signals to the back located anywhere accessible with ease ?
I wonder why his third brake light is not on? This is why I have not doe the mod yet! (Please see image on page 1 of this thread). After swapping lights, the brakes do come on as fog lights but the third brake light still appears dark or not-on.
Modified a customers brake lights per his request. He wanted the rear fog lamps to be part of the brake/stop lamp circuit. Also had to install load resistors to keep warning message off the drivers display. Came out beautiful. Here are the before and after pics. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
I'm hoping to take this on over the next few days! While I'm at it, I'm going to change the turn signals into LED. Might as well...
When the next person does this, please take very detailed photos with instructions. No one has done that yet.
If your going to do the turn signals you must put a load resistor in each circuit of warning message will come on dash and very fast blinker.
Yep, got the LED with built in resistors. Work great! Ill post a video of 1 side LED vs 1 side halogen. Worth the $20 (at least to me). Sent from my iPhone using FerrariChat.com mobile app
JUST finished with the brake lights. I have a ton of pictures and will give exact instructions shortly. My fingertips are killing me now so give me a little bit. Sent from my iPhone using FerrariChat.com mobile app
Check it out and tell me what you think! It took me a long time to type all this up so ENJOY! https://www.dropbox.com/s/rq4pcyr1j3d0m8a/How%20to%20Make%20Your%20Ferrari%20Cali%27s%20Brake%20Lights%20Work%20-%20Todd%20McGaughey.docx?dl=0 Image Unavailable, Please Login
That is an awesome job. The only thing I would ask is if you can just draw exactly how the wires are connected. Some sort of basic wiring diagram would be great. Thanks for the work.
By cutting the green wire, it looks like you are completely disconnecting the lower lights. Some people run the wire from the upper fogs down to the lower to convert the to fogs. You did not do that. In your write-up, the lower lights are on with the trunk open. How is that?
I think the red wire that comes in powers the running lights and the green powers the brakes. Checked this with a voltmeter before I cut anything. The car sends voltage via red wire while the trunk is open. Sent from my iPhone using FerrariChat.com mobile app
Hi all I’ve just taken delivery of a 2010 California and been following this thread’s evolution for a long time. I am going to do this mod but I will change out the 21w bulb in the center of the led cluster for a 10w bulb, swap the wires over in the plastic socket so the daytime/ night light is in the center and the led outer ring becomes the brake light. That way it will be completely legal and compliant in the UK, I also think that the led outer ring along with the central led strip will give maximum impact when applying the brakes (will also match and look good) Cheers Andrew
There are 3 wires that run into the upper light fixture. I’d be 1 is ground, 1 is power for the inner bulb, and 1 is power for the LED ring. One could probably swap the 2 wires around on the harness and accomplish the task you are talking about. I put a red led bulb in place of the white halogen and it looks MUCH better. Sent from my iPhone using FerrariChat.com mobile app
Someone should definitely make a plug and play harness for this mod and take my money. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I think you will keep waiting! Lol! The challenge with a plug and play harness is running it through the cluttered and small rubber wiring harness. It was really a tight fit to jam 2 wires with not fittings on the end. Sent from my iPhone using FerrariChat.com mobile app
Outstanding write up. I’m anxious to try it. A few years ago I swapped LED taillights into a 997 Porsche. It seemed very straightforward on paper, but it took a lot of time, tweaked resistors, and cut fingers. Your mod is so much more practical. I litigate trucking accidents for a living, and the thought of a big rig not seeing my little Cali brake lights and pancaking me scares the heck out of me. Sent from my iPad using FerrariChat.com mobile app
Thank you! It just takes time like everything else. Yeah, I wanted to stay as far away from cutting things up as I have terrible luck of cutting the wrong thing. For sure! The "real" break lights look way better and you will be glad you did it. Many people have done this different ways but my way works.
Many thanks Todd for taking the time to write all this up with pictures so earnestly for the rest of us. God bless you!!!